Sunday, April 30, 2017

Charles John Lyons, Jr., lifelong Southern California resident, Attorney,
Businessman, Golf Manufacturing Pioneer, and Real Estate Mogul, has died at age
88. Charles Lyons, Jr. passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of
April 19, 2017 at his home in Lakewood,
California. He died of natural
causes after battling dementia for the past few years. Born March 5, 1929 in
Buena Park, California to Armenian immigrant parents, Charles John Lyons, Sr.
(born: Garabed Ohanes Arslanian) and Balasan Kardashian Lyons, Charlie (as he
liked to be called) grew up and completed all of his lower division education
in Buena Park and Norwalk, California, while working with his father on the
family hog farm in Buena Park and vineyards in Delano, California. He graduated
from Excelsior High
School in Norwalk, California in 1946, and began his college education at Long Beach City College
that fall. He transferred to the University
of Southern California in 1948 where he
graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science, School of Commerce.
He remained at USC for law school, and graduated in 1953 with honors from the
University of Southern California School of Law in a prestigious class that
included many Superior and Appellate court
judges, including his lifelong friend Malcolm Lucas, former Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court of the State of California.
In the summer of 1948 he met his soon-to-be wife Mary Lou Harris in Delano. Charlie married
Mary Lou on June 24, 1950, and at the time of his death they had been happily
married for 66 years. After graduating from USC
Law School
in 1953, Charlie started his personal law practice in San Fernando, California
while managing his father's farming businesses. He and Mary Lou started a
family in 1953, and had one daughter, Celeste Angelle, and two sons, Charles
John, III and George Ove. In 1959, Charlie moved his family to Granada
Hills, California where he lived
until 1980, and then moved to Lakewood,
California where he resided until
his death. In 1956 he was Executive Producer of the feature film Flesh and the
Spur, which starred John Agar, Marla English, and a young Mike
"Touch" Connors of "Mannix" fame. During this same time
Charlie earned his real estate, broker, and insurance broker licenses. In the
1960s his law practice led him into a friendship with Carl Ross, who was
working for the Arnold Palmer Golf Company. Charlie and Carl bonded over a
shared love for the game of golf, and together they founded Lynx Golf Company
in 1971. Concurrently, Charlie started a restaurant development in Buena Park that is still
there today. By 1973, Charlie's avid hobby of golf, and his expertise in
designing and manufacturing golf clubs, turned into a business in Paramount, California.
He started Holiday Golf Corporation which ultimately became Golf Products Inc.
Over a short period of time his designs in investment cast golf clubs became
the industry standard for how golf clubs were designed and manufactured
worldwide. By the mid-1980s his companies included all phases of golf club
manufacturing, from the foundry to the complete finished product. His persimmon
woods were regarded as some of the finest ever made, and his metal wood designs
helped pave the way for what became the modern-day metal wood used today. He
produced golf clubs for almost every major golf club company in the world at
the time, and helped current manufacturers like Cleveland Golf, Taylor Made,
and Callaway when they were just getting started. The very first "Big
Bertha" wood was manufactured by Charlie Lyons. His expertise in the field
had his company ranked as the top component part supplier of golf clubs in the
world for many years. At the peak of production in the mid to late '80s,
Charlie employed over 500 employees in all phases of his golf manufacturing
operations. In 1986 Charlie and his son Chuckie developed The Lyons Business
Center, a large industrial park in Paramount,
California. From 1986-1992 he was
also advisor and mentor to Fu-Lyons Associates, an industrial real estate
company owned by his son, Chuckie, and longtime friend David Fu. During this
time, he was also part of a group that developed properties for Costco as they
expanded into California,
and was one of the original investors in Starbucks. By the mid-1990s the golf
club business was moving to Asia, and Charlie
converted his accumulated, first-class buildings into leasing properties. In
1993, he became managing partner of South Bay Pavilion in Carson, California,
until the property was sold in 2003. For the final 20+ years of Charlie's life,
he spent his time developing and managing his large portfolio of properties. He
went to the office every day until the last four months of his life. His wife
Mary Lou continues to run their business to this day. Charlie also served on
the Board of Councilors of the University of Southern California Gould School
of Law, Board of Councilors of the University of Southern California Keck
School of Medicine, Board of Lakewood Regional Hospital and Medical Center.
Besides all of his accomplishments in business, Charlie's greatest pride came
from his family. As a dedicated son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather;
his family was the most important thing in his life. Charles John Lyons, Jr.
was always looked up to as a pillar of strength, the patriarch of his family,
and a true visionary in business. His counsel and advice were respected
worldwide. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. Charlie was
preceded in death by his parents, Charles John Lyons, Sr. (1972) and Balasan
Kardashian Lyons (1979). He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Lou
Lyons; his sisters Helene Lyons Bedrosian (Richard Bedrosian), Thelma Lyons Kay
(Raymond Kay), and sister-in-law Lendy Dear; his daughter Celeste Lyons Macer
(Dr. George A. Macer, Jr.), and sons Charles (Chuckie) John Lyons, III (Cynthia
Peterson Lyons) and George Ove Lyons; his grandchildren Charles John Lyons, IV
(Nicole Lean Lyons), Arianne Lyons O'Brien (Colin O'Brien), Christiana Macer
Garcia (Daniel Garcia), Marina Macer, Emily Macer, and two great-granddaughters
Olivia Lyons and Sloane O'Brien. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made in Charlie's memory to: USC Gould School of Law, 1149 So. Hill Street,
Suite 340, Los Angeles, CA 90015-2220 or Ararat Home of Los Angeles, 15099
Mission Hills Road, Mission Hills, CA 91345.

Friday, April 28, 2017

Ernesto Benitez Macias, 90, born on February 12, 1927,
passed away on April 26, 2017. He resided in Studio City, California,
at the time of his passing. He was a World War II Veteran, successful television actor and is survived by Sharon,
Laura, and Sean Macias. He was also the father of Jason Macias who passed.

Ernesto was also known as Eric Mason in television and theater and also worked
over 30 years as a branch manager and marketing expert for Royal, Konica, and other companies. He donated his time as a veteran in the US Veterans Honor
Guard and produced and directed projects for the latino community at Olivera Street and was a longtime member of Theatre 40. He touched everyone he met with his
dynamic charisma, amazing imagination and amazing cooking skills. He was of Spanish descent and proud of his heritage and had the heart and soul of a lion.
He was an officer and a gentleman and most importantly an amazing friend, uncle, brother and father. He will be missed but his legacy and charm and humor
will live on.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Crowley-Rubsam, Betty Jane “Kathleen”, 87, of Green Bank died peacefully
at home on Sunday April 23, 2017. She was a graduate of Egg Harbor City
High School in 1946. In 1949, her dreams came true when she won the
title of “Miss New Jersey”. She then entered the “Miss America” pageant
held in Atlantic City, NJ in 1949 and was a finalist and won “Miss
Congeniality” with a scholarship to New York’s Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Her acting career took off in 1951 when she appeared in “A Star is
Born”. She moved to Hollywood, CA where she became an extremely
accomplished actress including many television and movie titles like
Batman, Bonanza, Gidget, Maverick, Perry Mason, Westward Ho the Wagons,
Showdown, The Lawyer, Downhill, Racer with Robert Redford and many more.
Her career spanned from two decades until she met her husband, John
Rubsam and they returned to Green Bank, NJ to raise their son, Matthew.
There she was a devoted mother and became the bridge tender for the
Green Bank Bridge. She is predeceased by her parents, Bert and Alice
Crowley and brother, William Crowley.

Kathleen is survived by John Rubsam; her son, Matthew and wife, Stacey
Rubsam; her granddaughter, Samantha; nephew, William Crowley Jr.; niece,
Leslee and Gary Miller and their children; as well as many other
friends and family.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, April 27th from 9:30 to 10:30 AM
at Wimberg Funeral Home 400 Liverpool Ave., Egg Harbor City
609-965-0357. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 AM at St.
Nicholas Church, 525 St. Louis Ave, Egg Harbor City. Interment will
immediately follow at Green Bank Cemetery.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Kathleen Crowley please visit our Sympathy Store.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Gustavo Rojo has sadly passed away at the age of 93 years
old. The initial reports of the death of the actor doesn't reveal the cause,
but many celebrities on social media have taken their time to express their
sadness. Rojo lived in México, but originated from Uruguay. His last telenovela
was on Televisa's "Un Camino Hacia El Destino." The legendary actor
is the famous father of actress Ana Patricia Rojo.

Gustavo Rojo was born September 5, 1923 in Montevideo,
Uruguay. His mother, Mercedes Pinto was a prominent author from Spain, who had
left her country to Uruguay for political reasons. Rojo made his debut in a
play that his mother wrote. His first on-screen role was in the 1938 Cuban
movie, "Ahora Seremos Felices," that also starred older sibling
Pituka de Foronda. In the 1940s his family made their way to México.

He starred in movies like "Tarzan and the
Mermaids," "La Reina del Mambo," "From Madrid to
Heaven," "Under The Sky In Spain," "Alexander The
Great," "Julius Ceesar Against The Pirates," "Spy Today,
Die Tomorrow" and "The Valley of Gwangi."

Maureen Steindler, nee Westerberg, age 92, died at her
home in Elmwood Park on Sunday, April 9, 2017. Maureen was born in Toronto,
Ontario, Canada where, as a child, she performed with the Toronto Children's
Players. She came to the United States to attend Northwestern University where
she met and, in 1946, married Emanuel (Manny) Steindler. She and Manny remained
married until his death in 2001. Maureen graduated with honors from
Northwestern in 1948. While at NU, she directed children's theater and after graduating,
wrote, and directed children's plays for community theaters and Hull House
Theater. Maureen was very active in Chicago's acting community throughout the
1950s, 60s and 70s, teaching and performing at Second City, Hull House, and
other Chicago Theaters. Maureen was a member of Actors' Equity, serving in many
leadership positions throughout her professional acting career. She was
nominated for a 1975 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actress in a Principal
Role for her performance in "Ruffian on the Stair" at the Orphans
Theatre Company in Chicago. Beginning in the 1970s until her death Maureen was
active in the film and advertising community, appearing in several movies,
including Robert Altman's "A Wedding" (1978) and "Poltergeist
III" (1988), as well as numerous TV commercials, print ads, and voice
overs. From the early 1990s, Maureen was involved with the Senior Radio
Players, a performance group of the Screen Actors' Guild and the American
Federal of TV and Radio Artists (SAG/AFTRA) dedicated to bringing the art of
old time radio to the stage. A natural comedienne, she appeared on stage in
several roles over the years, including recent appearances as Baby Snooks and
Chaquita Banana. In addition to her many professional accomplishments, Maureen
was admired for her humor and giving, compassionate heart. Maureen is survived
by her three children, Kathryn (Salvador) Ramos, Arthur (Mary) Steindler, and
Wallace Steindler, three grandchildren Nathan Ramos, Corynne Steindler Cirilli,
and Ellen Steindler Serafin, and her great grandson, Kai Cirilli, many loving
cousins, nieces and nephews, neighbors, and friends. A memorial and celebration
of her life is being planned for June.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Erin Moran, best known for playing Joanie Cunningham on “Happy Days,” has
died. She was 56.

According to TMZ, Moran’s body was found unresponsive Saturday afternoon by
authorities in Indiana.
The cause of death is unknown.

The California-born actress, who also starred in “Happy Days” spinoff “Joanie
Loves Chachi” opposite Scott Baio, had fallen on hard times in recent
years. She was reportedly kicked out of her trailer park home in Indiana, according to
tabloid reports, because of her hard-partying ways.

Moran was just 14 when she signed on to play Ron Howard’s sister in the TV
classic “Happy Days,” which aired from 1974 to 1983. Her TV credits also
include “The Love Boat,” “Murder, She Wrote” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

She most recently appeared on VH1 reality show “Celebrity Fit Club” and
low-budget film “Not Another B Movie” in 2010.

In 2012, Moran and three of her “Happy Days” co-stars – Williams, Marion
Ross, Don Most and the widow of Tom Bosley – sued CBS for $10 million, claiming
they never received merchandise royalties they were owed under their contracts.
The case was later settled out of court. Neither Henry Winkly, who famously
starred as the Fonz on the show, nor Ron Howard were part of the lawsuit.

Actor notably for Jean Rollin but also Truffaut and
Chabrol, Jacques Robiolles died on April 19 at the age of 82 years. He also
directed art and essay films, short films and documentaries.

Jacques Robiolles began his career as an actor. He is
also known for his work with Claude Chabrol (Landru, 1962), François Truffaut
(La mariée était en noir, 1967, Baisers volés, 1968, Domicile conjugal, 1970),
et Philippe Garrel (Marie pour mémoire, 1967).

After a short film career without a future (Reflection in
a Henri III buffet), Robiolles returns to directing in the late 1960s. Henri
Langlois, the cofounder of the French Cinémathèque, is interested in him,
participating in the production Of his first film The Dagmaluakh (1968). He
then made a dozen poetic films, such as Les Yeux de Maman (1971), Le Jardin des
Hespérides (1975), dedicated to Langlois, and shown at the Cannes Film Festival
in 1975. He had a fantastic Scene The Transylvanian Train, and appeared in Jean
Rollin's La Vampire nue et Le Frisson des vampires. He was also seen in small
roles for Jean-François Davy in Bananes Mécaniques and Au Plaisir des dames. In
1981, he directed Fabrice Luchini in a short film called La forêt désenchantée.

His last appearance on the screen dates from 2004 for the
documentary film The Phantom of Henri Langlois of Jacques Richard. Robiolles
was also featured in Gérard Courant's experimental documentary entitled
Cinématon in 2002, which featured filmed portraits of personalities from the
7th art. He had retired for many years to Normandy.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.